Solo Flight to Airline Flight

Thirty years since that fall afternoon

I was just sixteen

Wind was blowing strong

Thought my solo would be scrubbed

Flight instructor said, the wind won't last long

Tomahawk wings, cuttin' the sky alone

First solo heartbeats, chasin' the unknown

Engine roared my name, loud and clear

Three touch and goes, conquering the fear

Climbed into a piper tomahawk, heart racing fast

Instructor stepped out, you're ready kid, have a blast

Climbin up felt so light flying solo

Empty seat on my right, sunset burning orange and yellow

Tomahawk wings, cuttin' the sky alone

First solo heartbeats, chasin' the unknown

Engine roared my name, loud and clear

Three touch and goes, conquering the fear

Taxied back to that little FBO, family waiting on hand

Muttered a holy cow, then steadied my hands

Shaking knees stepping down, big smiles all around

Something inside changed that day on the ground

Tomahawk wings, cuttin' the sky alone

First solo heartbeats, chasin' the unknown

Engine roared my name, loud and clear

Three touch and goes, conquering the fear

Now I'm cruising at flight level three seven zero

Boeing humming, Iowa soft corn below

Same golden fields, same moon glow

From that shaky first takeoff to big Boeing jets

Still feel that little piper lifting me with no headset

Most kids get cars at sixteen

I got wings and a dream that never ends

Headlines said, soaring solo at sixteen

Now every Boeing takeoff brings that feeling back

Up here at the flight levels

Stars overhead, clouds like bevels

From tomahawk to jet dressed in blue

That first solo thrill still carries me through

Thirty years above Iowa fields

And I'm still that kid, chasing starfields